Synopsis: After hunting down a dangerous bio-smuggler, the Black Widow prepares to shed her latest cover and move on. But something isn’t right. The Black Widow has been targeted. Now she must find the threat before they find her.
Her options limited, Natasha Romanoff turns to Bruce Banner. He tells her something she doesn’t want to hear but does give her a lead.
Review: Crafted by an all-female writing team, Black Widow: Bad Blood helps fill the void created by the lockdown and the MCU film’s delay. As I’m only familiar with large and small screen Marvel continuity, this comic-inspired original story will be an interesting shift for me.
Story
“Blackout Protocol” by Lindsay Smith and Taylor Stevens is an action-packed beginning that bodes well for the rest of the serial. If the bio-smuggler Natasha Romanoff takes on in this first installment is merely middle management, I can’t wait to meet the Big Bad. The prose is as clear and fast-paced as the set-piece fight sequence it describes.
Smith and Stevens accentuate The Black Widow’s real job with the relationships she formed through her cover identity. I appreciated the brief but well-drawn portraits of these three friends and what their presence meant to Natasha. I also found what I assume are traces of foreshadowing, which I hope I’m wrong about.
“Something Stolen, Something Red” again by Smith and Stevens involves someone struggling with being green. This shorter chapter centers on Bruce Banner, giving him and Natasha a much different dynamic than those only familiar with the MCU are used to.
In the course of things, Banner provides a direct clue and what appears to be more foreshadowing. If I’m right, Natasha is going to need Tony Stark’s help before this is over.
Narration
Sarah Natochenny does a superb job narrating. I’m not familiar with her other work, but these first two chapters showcase a voice artist who knows her craft. She breathes life and depth into every aspect of the story.
Overall
Black Widow: Bad Blood gets off to an excellent start. As with Thor: Metal Gods, the Serial Box team has produced an engaging foray into the Marvel-verse that has left me wanting more.
You can purchase Black Widow: Bad Blood here.
- Story8.5
- Narration9.0
- Audio Production10
Narration: “Not familiar with her other work”. She has only been the voice of Ash Ketchum from Pokémon for more than a decade.
I don’t watch or play Pokémon, but I’m happy for those of you that do. Hearing her voice has got to be like comfort food for you. As a Gen-X kid, the equivalent for me was hearing Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime. Thanks for reading.